Grafton autumn term 2 2023

This term Hedgehog class have been very busy! 

In Literacy, we have been reading the story 'The Magic Porridge Pot'. We enjoyed immersing ourselves in the story and enjoyed making and tasting porridge! We then did a fantastic job writing instructions on how to make porridge. 

In Maths, we have carried on looking at numbers up to 10. We have partitioned numbers using a part whole model, using a number line to add two numbers together and use practical objects to help with counting. 

This term we also went for a walk in our local area which linked to our learning about human and physical features. As we were walking we looked for things that were either man made or natural! Mrs Moosa and all the adults were very impressed with our listening!

In addition, We have been busy practising our Christmas play! We enjoyed learning all the songs and enjoyed taking part in the play. We also enjoyed seeing parents come to watch us perform our Christmas play!

Autumn 2 has been a busy one for Cedar Class and all of Year 3. In Maths, we have added and subtracted 3-digit numbers using the formal written (column) method. In Literacy, we read 'The Day the Crayons Quit' by Drew Daywalt. We wrote letters in character as the main character Ducan and helped to solve the problems of some very unhappy crayons. Our Geography has focused on the USA, and we have become experts in the physical and human features of that amazing county. Our Science has been so much fun! We carried out investigations into magnets and discovered that magnets have two poles (north and south), the opposite poles attract each other. However, two north poles or two south poles will repel each other. In DT, we planned and built a chair for Baby Bear. It took some perseverance, but we all managed to construct a stable chair for a teddy to sit on.

Holly class is delighted to share the fantastic work and experiences they have been getting up to this half-term!

In Literacy, the focus has been on honing their persuasive speech skills, while working tirelessly to craft compelling arguments. Additionally, they've embarked on a thrilling journey of suspense writing, exploring various suspense features to create captivating narratives all based around the literary classic Macbeth.

In our History lessons, the class has continued to deeply engage in learning about World War II, gaining valuable insights into this significant period in history. 

A special highlight this term was a virtual visit from a knowledgeable guest from the Windrush Generation, Lilleith Morrison, who answered thought-provoking questions posed by both our class and the rest of Year 6. This enriching experience allowed our pupils to connect with real-world perspectives related to their learning. 

This half-term also saw us go on not one but two trips. The first was to Valance House which further deepened our classes' knowledge of World War II as well as show the class how it impacted our local area. Our second trip was to Barking Broadway Theatre to see Dick Whittington- oh not it wasn't, oh yes it was! 

We appreciate your continued support in fostering a love for learning and curiosity in our class. 

6 Holly

At Grafton, we respect and celebrate every child – their background, their culture, their faith and the languages they speak. We celebrate a different language each term with our "Language of the Term".

Language of the Term helps us to recognise, celebrate and learn about the different languages, cultures and traditions of families as represented in our school.

Each term we learn a different language and children are given opportunities to develop their spoken skills in that language. 

All teachers embrace the selected language of the term and actively encourage the children to say good morning, good afternoon, and hello, in the language of the term.

The language of the Term Spring 2024 is Portuguese.

Portuguese is the third most spoken language after English and Spanish.

Portuguese is a language spoken in Europe, Africa, South America and Asia. It is the official language of Portugal, Brazil, Angola, Cabo Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, São Tomé and Príncipe and East Timor. It is also used in Macau, Goa Venezuela, Canada, Uruguay, Namibia, and the United States.

The Portuguese language is regarded as a powerful means of communication because the language spreads over several continents.

There are over 200 million people who speak Portuguese.

Join us this term in learning these phrases in Portuguese.

Power Maths Relaunch 

On our return to school in September the teaching staff relaunched Power Maths as our key scheme for teaching Maths across the school from Year 1 - Year 6. We had originally adopted this scheme and mastery approach to teaching and learning Maths before the pandemic but felt that the time was right to put a greater emphasis on Maths within our school. 

What is Power Maths? 

Power Maths is a UK Maths scheme based on research and extensive experience in teaching and learning Maths; it has been designed to support and challenge all pupils and is built on the belief that EVERYONE can learn Maths successfully. Power Maths is aligned with the National Curriculum, and is a whole-class mastery resource to empower every child to understand and succeed in Maths. 

At the heart of Power Maths is the belief that all children can achieve. The scheme moves away from the traditional teaching methods involving memorising formulas and calculation methods and rote learning to a philosophy that being successful in Maths is about problem solving, thinking and discussing. Power Maths aims to spark curiosity and encourages rich mathematical talk and helps children problem-solve by building on prior learning to help them see connections and patterns. 

Power Maths is based on a ‘small-steps’ approach, sometimes called a mastery approach. This means that the concepts are broken down so that your child can master one idea without feeling overwhelmed. There is a range of fluency, reasoning and problem solving questions in each lesson that are designed to support the different needs and confidence levels within a class, while at the same time fostering a spirit of working and learning together. Each lesson includes a challenge question for those children who can delve deeper into a concept. 

“Mastering Maths means acquiring a deep, long-term, secure and adaptable understanding of the subject” – NCETM - in our Power Maths lessons this is achieved through: 

● Carefully sequenced small step learning 

● Developing mathematical thinking 

● Building fluency 

● Using representations that expose mathematical structures 

Power Maths is built on a growth mindset and problem-solving approach. Each new concept is built up in small, progressive steps to help keep the whole class together. The growth mindset approach encourages children to see mistakes as learning opportunities. It promotes hard work and practice, and discourages the idea that some people ‘can’t do Maths’. 

Why not ask your child who they met in class today or what their discover problem was all about - you never know you might see Maths in a more positive light, let's make Maths fun and engaging for all! 

Want to find out more, please join us at the parent workshop titled Power Maths and Calculation Strategies on The 14th March 2024, 9am - 10am. 

Multiplication 

Why do children learn multiplication times tables? 

At GraftonPrimary, we place a great emphasis on the importance of learning multiplication times tables. This knowledge helps lay the foundations for other areas of Maths and therefore makes learning other topics within Maths easier. Developing a quick recall of multiplication times tables helps children focus on more challenging tasks and enables them to develop their reasoning skills. Multiplication tables are taught in an engaging way which includes games and songs. Children begin counting in multiples of 2, 5 and 10 and by the end of year 2 children should be able to recall and use multiplication and division facts for the 2, 5 and 10 multiplication tables. Children then progress to the 3, 4 and 8 times tables and should know multiplication and division facts for multiplication tables up to 12X12 by the end of year 4. 

What can children do at home to support their recall of multiplication times tables? 

From year 2, you can support your child’s learning of multiplication tables by using Times Tables Rockstars. 

Times Tables Rockstars helps to develop fluency and recall in multiplication and division. The questions are adapted to each individual user’s needs, helping them to recall times tables at speed. Access to Times Tables Rock Stars can be found at ttrockstars.com and each child is given their own username and passwords from class teachers. If you have any difficulties logging in, please let the class teacher know. 

Government assessment of multiplication tables. 

At the end of year 4, children complete a government times tables check which allows them to see if children are at the expected level of multiplication tables knowledge. The check is online and consists of 25 randomly generated questions with 6 seconds to answer each one, ranging from 2 to 12 times tables. 

Want to know more? Further details about teaching times tables and the Year 4 check will be shared during the Year 4 MTC parent workshop on the 29th of February 2023, 9am - 10am. 

Maths in EYFS 

One of the key predictors of a child’s Maths ability later in life is their ability to use spatial reasoning. Spatial reasoning is how we understand the way things move and are located in relation to ourselves and others. This reasoning can involve both mental and physical capabilities. 

Age 3-4

At this age, children are developing an understanding of aspects of shape and space including composition (how shapes fit together), movements like turning and flipping, symmetry and scale. Children are beginning to recognise and predict familiar routes (e.g. to the park). 

What can you do to help at home? 

Play with puzzles - moving, turning and predicting how pieces will fit together. 

Small world play with figures/cars/animals - helps understanding position and direction. Go out and about - remembering and predicting routes, landmarks and directions, discussing perspectives and distance. 

Obstacle courses - experiencing and talking about directions. 

Block play - using size and shape relationships as well as parts and whole to select blocks for specific purposes/structures. 

Nursery vocab - in front of, sideways, bigger, smaller, straight, bend, corner, across, long way, after, reflection, pattern, together, next to, slanting, pointy, curved. 

Age 4-5 

At this age, children are learning to solve problems involving predictions and are beginning to use visualisation to imagine spatial information in the mind’s eye (e.g. turning and flipping objects to see what will fit, mentally planning what to build). Compositions become more complex (e.g. combining shapes to make other shapes, reflections with four lines of symmetry). Children are developing their ability to follow and give directions and to use landmarks to find their way. 

What can you do to help at home? 

Play hiding or barrier games - developing visualisation, prediction and spatial language. Using maps and models - developing navigation and understanding of scale by using and creating simple maps and models. 

Play puzzles - understanding fit, composition and decomposition, through visualisation and discussion. Pattern making - exploring symmetry (reflection) 

Construction - building constructions with arches and enclosures. 

Small world play - exploring relative position, distances and transformation (turning and flipping objects). 

Reception vocab - same/different beside, in front, cylinder, upside down, next to, around, forwards, other way round, reflection, match, opposite, before, straight on, behind, between, fit, turn, twist, corner, underneath. 

If you would like to learn more about Maths in the Early Years, join us for the parent workshop on February 8th 2024, 9am - 10am.